The Ruhrgebiet, located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, is a metropolitan region comprising major cities like Essen, Dortmund, and Duisburg, with a total population of more than 5 million residents. Historically known as the heart of coal and steel production, the region has undergone a profound structural transformation in recent decades.
Sustainability challenges in the Ruhrgebiet include environmental pollution and land degradation due to its industrial past. The Ruhr Regional Association (RVR, Regionalverband Ruhr) actively addresses these issues by promoting projects for the renaturation of former industrial sites and the creation of green spaces. Additionally, sustainable transportation initiatives aim to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions.
The Ruhrgebiet's transition towards a service-oriented and knowledge-based economy is supported by educational projects and innovation promotion. Overall, the region is evolving, tackling sustainability challenges while preserving its cultural diversity and industrial heritage.
The Ruhrgebiet places a strong emphasis on promoting green infrastructure as a key aspect of sustainable transition. Therefore, the “Green Infrastructure Strategy - Ruhr Metropolis” aims to enhance residents' quality of life and strengthen ecological functions by creating a network of green spaces, parks, and natural habitats. It focuses on five objectives: to become a livable, climate-adapted, biodiverse, circular, and climate-just Ruhrgebiet. The backbone of the green infrastructure network in the Ruhrgebiet is its system of regional green corridors, which link urban and rural areas and support recreation, biodiversity, and climate resilience across the region.
More than a hundred years ago their protection and upkeeping was understood to be key for healthy living conditions during industrialization and one of the core reasons for founding the Ruhr Regional Association. Today, these green corridors still connect cities and neighborhoods, fostering biodiversity and providing recreational opportunities for residents, thereby enhancing their quality of life and improving the urban climate.
A notable initiative is the Emscher-revitalisation, which emerged from the International Building Exhibition (IBA) Emscher Park. This comprehensive project aimed to rewild the heavily polluted Emscher River, significantly improving water quality and creating habitats for various plant and animal species. Reports indicate a remarkable improvement in water quality since the project's inception, leading to the return of fish and other aquatic organisms. Today, the river and its surrounding green spaces are widely associated with recreational, quality of life and tourism aspects.
Looking ahead, the International Garden Exhibition (IGA) will take place in the Ruhrgebiet in 2027, further promoting green infrastructure and sustainability and constructing attractive multifunctional green infrastructure. Overall, these initiatives demonstrate how the RVR and the municipalities in the Ruhrgebiet actively work together towards enhancing sustainability and quality of life, with positive ecological and social impacts.
The transformation of the Ruhrgebiet through green infrastructure is an example of how we can learn from the past and create a livable, sustainable future for our cities across Europe.
Nina Frense, Councillor for Environment and Green Infrastructure
The RVR has been an ICLEI member since 2015, and this milestone—as well as the fruitful cooperation over the years—will be celebrated during the first European Green Infrastructure Summit, taking place from 25–27 June 2025 in Essen. The summit will bring together eight regions from across Europe to exchange experiences in regional green infrastructure development. As part of the programme, ICLEI will host a session titled: “What makes international cooperation successful? Insights from ICLEI on the key elements of effective collaboration.”
To ensure effective cooperation, RVR and ICLEI have adopted a multilevel action approach—leveraging RVR’s strong regional network, including key cities like Dortmund (a partner in the ICLEI Action Fund and several joint projects) and Essen (collaborating with ICLEI on climate neutrality and sustainable school meals).
Comprehensive information about the RVR Green Infrastructure Strategy and its development process is available on the region's website. In the download section, you will find all key documents — from the Green Infrastructure Factbook to the Charter and Strategy, as well as the Green Infrastructure Catalogue (available in German only). Updates on current processes and implementation projects are regularly shared via the newsletter, which you can subscribe to here: Newsletter Link. Additionally, the project database provides an overview of Green Infrastructure initiatives across the region.
